DOJ asks for Supreme Court to intervene on California ballot demands

Key Points:

• The Department of Justice (DOJ) has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking intervention in its dispute with California over alleged noncitizens on the state's voter rolls, just one day before Election Day.
• Federal courts, including a 9th Circuit panel, have so far rejected the DOJ's attempts to halt processing ballots of approximately 20,000 "likely" noncitizens, citing risks of voter disenfranchisement and the impracticality of altering election procedures so close to voting.
• The 9th Circuit judges emphasized the Purcell principle, which discourages last-minute changes to election rules, and upheld states' constitutional authority to administer elections, while noting legal protections against removing voters near federal elections.
• Independent analysis by UCLA's Voting Rights Project found that 42% of the DOJ's flagged names were not on California's voter rolls and included naturalized citizens, suggesting inaccuracies in the DOJ's list.
• The DOJ has intensified its conflict with California election officials by issuing subpoenas and warning of potential criminal prosecution for permitting ineligible voting, escalating tensions ahead of the election.